Carter Infinger

Chairman Bryan County Commission

The Bryan County Tax Commissioner’s Office recently mailed out the estimated tax assessments for 2023 based on last year’s millage rate, which contain the newly assessed fair market value for properties in Bryan County.

A home’s fair market value is determined by comparing recent sales of similar homes in a similar area. In the past few years, home sales and prices have gone up due to a growing need for housing, not only in our area, but also across the United States.

The fair market values that are calculated are directly connected to these recent sales and, as a result, have increased as well. The assessed value of each property is 40% of the fair market value, but there are ways to potentially reduce taxes on homeowners.

The first step to take if you feel that your assessed value is inaccurate is to appeal to the Board of Equalization by July 28, 2023, by filling out this form https:// dor.georgia.gov/pt-311a-appeal- assessment-form and hand delivering or mailing it to the Tax Assessors office.

You can call (912) 653-3889

tel:(912) 6533889

Additionally, homeowners with primary residences located in Bryan County can apply for homestead exemptions. The primary exemption offers a $30,000 reduction to the County or City portion of property taxes for those under 65. For those over 65 it offers an additional $50,000 exemption to all taxes. Several other homestead exemptions can also apply. All exemptions must be applied for by Jan. 1, for the following tax year at the Tax Commissioners offices in Richmond Hill or Pembroke.

For the 2023 tax year, the state of Georgia is also providing a grant in the form of an additional $18,000 off the assessed value of homesteaded properties that should be automatically applied to the actual tax bill that will be mailed out in September 2023.

On each assessment, Bryan County Schools, Bryan County Government, and if the property is within the city limits, Pembroke or Richmond Hill will have an individual millage rate.

The Bryan County Board of Commissioners has consistently reduced the millage rate annually since 2016. The current County millage rate is 7.377 mils, which is among the lowest in Georgia.

Bryan County has been able to roll back this rate due to the professional management of the County and the increasing tax base that allows us to spread the costs of running the County across an increasing number of residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

Growing the industrial and commercial tax base in Bryan County will also help to lessen the property tax burden on homeowners in the future.

The millage rates will be set in August and will be reflected on the tax bills in September.

Having a solid sales tax collections, which include SPLOST and TSPLOST, has allowed for the funding of large-scale capital projects utilizing those funds rather than the general fund, which is largely funded by property tax collections.

All of these factors combined have allowed Bryan County to consistently reduce the millage rate over time.

I thank you for allowing me to be your Chairman to help continue to provide quality services to our County.